Emma Raducanu gives health update as tennis star prepares return to action

Emma Raducanu 'extremely grateful' after receiving MBE and meeting King Charles

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PA

Lewis Henderson

By Lewis Henderson


Published: 23/05/2026

- 15:28

The British number one is making her return to tennis after not playing since March

Emma Raducanu is feeling positive about her health as she prepares for her opening match at the French Open.

The British number one has been out for over two months with a post-viral illness as she gets ready to take on Argentina's Solana Sierra in the first round.


She lost a close contest with Diane Parry in her opening match in Strasbourg, but is feeling much healthier again.

Raducanu said: "I feel a lot better. I thought I'd completely flipped it.

"I think there's just been a little bit of a lingering cough recently. But I feel health-wise really good.

"I played a really positive match last week in Strasbourg in the sense it was over two hours, and I think physically I pulled up really well from it.

"So I'm happy to take that and build from it."

The Briton's absence meant she fell out of the top 32, going in unseeded to the French Open.

Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu will return to action at the French Open

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GETTY

Fortunately, she missed the big names, but Sierra, ranked 64th, will prove a difficult contest.

Commenting on her opponent, Raducanu said: "She's a great player.

"It's going to be a really tricky first round, especially coming in light on matches, but I'm just proud of how I'm approaching every day, proud of the work I'm putting in.

"I know I'm going to have to play really good tennis and be aggressive."

Emma Raducanu

Raducanu praised her upcoming opponent, describing her as a 'great player'

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PA

She continued: "I feel like the conditions are pretty lively so far in the practice days, as the weather is hot, but I think that could be a good thing.

"I just want to go out there and try and play on my terms as much as I can."

Should Raducanu overcome Sierra, a considerably tougher obstacle awaits in the form of 13th seed Jasmine Paolini, the Italian who reached the 2024 final.

Paolini must first navigate past Dayana Yastremska to set up that potential encounter.

Emma Raducanu graphicFive things to know about British tennis star Emma Raducanu | PA

There is some encouragement for Raducanu's prospects: the Italian has managed only two victories on clay throughout this season.

The British player would not face second seed Elena Rybakina until the fourth round, should she progress that far.

The pair were originally scheduled to face each other at the Italian Open earlier this year, but Raducanu withdrew from that tournament due to illness.

Katie Boulter, Britain's second-ranked player, will begin her Roland Garros campaign against American teenager and wildcard Akasha Urhobo.